The conflict alone is what makes this book truly fascinating.

The story centers around two sisters, Anna and Kate. The older sister, Kate, was diagnosed with leukemia at the tender age of four. Understanding that their daughter would require blood donations, bone marrow, and potentially organ donations in the future, Kate's parents made a difficult decision. They had another child, Anna, whose sole purpose was to provide a blood match for Kate.

Thirteen years later, Anna finds herself exhausted from spending almost all her time in hospitals, constantly giving bone marrow and blood to keep her sister's cancer at bay. When Anna discovers that Kate now needs a kidney transplant, she takes a drastic step and sues her parents for the rights to her own body. The resulting trial, along with the ending of the book, is incredibly tense and riveting.

After finishing this book, I was so enthralled that I immediately went out and read two more of Picoult's works, namely Plain Truth and Vanishing Acts. It was then that I realized that, similar to Dan Brown and William Shakespeare, Jodi Picoult has the remarkable ability to pen wonderful stories that engage the reader from beginning to end. However, these writers also share something else in common: once they find a plot formula they like, they tend to overuse it.

Picoult's novels follow a certain pattern: an improbable and dramatic event (such as a sister suing parents over a kidney transplant, an Amish girl accused of killing her baby, or a father arrested for kidnapping his own daughter), a dramatic trial, switching narratives, two people falling in love who shouldn't, a dramatic trial decision, and a twist ending. Read one and you've pretty much read them all. Nevertheless, My Sister's Keeper stands out as the best of the bunch, so it's definitely worth picking up. On the other hand, it might be best to skip Nineteen Minutes and The Tenth Circle as they are considered the worst of her works.

Kate is a sixteen-year-old girl whom leukemia has been destroying since the age of two. Anna is her two years younger sister who was brought into the world to be an ideal donor for her sister. She is healthy, but a large part of her life has been spent in the hospital, fighting for her sister to survive. She has given blood to her countless times, starting from that in the umbilical cord and ending with the donation of bone marrow. On the day when Anna is asked to donate a kidney, she files a lawsuit and requests medical emancipation.

"I have only thought about this daughter within the framework of what she can do for the daughter I already have. I didn't even say that to Brian, who lies every night, with his head on my rather large belly, waiting for kicks that - as he thinks - herald the first female Patriots' attacker. On the other hand, my expectations are not small either: I expect that she will save the life of her sister."

Each chapter in this novel tells the story of one of the characters, Kate, Anna, their parents Sara and Brian, their eldest son, Anna and Kate's brother Jess, the lawyer Campbell and the lawyer Julia. Through their perspective, we follow the development of events from the moment when Anna files a lawsuit until the final verdict. In some chapters, we also follow Sara's story about the childhood of her children and how the illness of her older daughter has affected their lives.

It was very difficult for me to read this book. I even thought of giving up. It is very difficult to read about parents who have one child first and two other children, Anna and Jess, second. I developed the most sympathy for Anna, whom I pitied from the first to the last page, and her father Brian, to whom she was most attached and who had understanding for her. Despite Kate's illness, I didn't love her as much as Anna. What I didn't like were the side episodes that follow Campbell and Julia, the lawyers, who, while working on this case, remember their past and the time they spent in high school. That seemed rather pointless to me.

This is a novel about a difficult life caused by the illness of a loved one. This is a novel about Anna, a brave girl who is an incomplete person without Kate. A girl who breathes like her sister and who constantly experiences the same as her.

Here is an article for you to rewrite and expand. It is about a product or service that has received a rating of 3.75 stars. You can add details about the features, benefits, or drawbacks of the product/service, as well as your own thoughts and opinions.

3.75 stars**
This product/service has managed to achieve a solid 3.75-star rating, which is no small feat. It likely offers a good combination of features and benefits that have appealed to a significant number of users. However, with a rating that isn't quite a perfect 5 stars, there are probably some areas where it could be improved. Perhaps the user interface could be more intuitive, or the customer service could be more responsive. On the other hand, the product/service may have some unique selling points that set it apart from the competition. It could offer a level of customization that other similar products/services don't, or it could be more affordable. Overall, a 3.75-star rating indicates that this product/service has a lot of potential, and with a few tweaks and improvements, it could easily become a top-rated choice.

Oh dear. Where do I even begin with this one?

The only thing I liked about this was the concept. The idea of comparing the quality of one daughter's life versus the sanctity of her sister's is phenomenally creative and very forward thinking for the time this was written. It truly makes you think about the ethically, morally, medically, and psychologically ambiguous questions and answers that this story prompts.

That being said, I hated everything else. There are way too many POVs, several of which are unnecessary, and I really don't like any of the characters. But I absolutely loathe the mother. OMG. I'm not a violent person, but I seriously was concerned by how often I wanted to strangle her to death.

I also don't like the way the narration was told. There are too many switches between present day and past memories with no transitions. It's so annoying and really disrupts the flow of the story.

And the ending is the biggest disappointment of them all. I feel like JP took the cowardly/easy way out because she wasn't brave enough to see either side of the argument through. I would have respected her as an author for committing to and seeing a decision through, regardless of the sad consequences that would have followed. But she didn't, and it ruined the story for me.

This story had a lot of potential that was quickly flushed down the toilet.

↠ 2 stars

I am truly torn as I sit down to pen this review for this particular book.

It is simply astonishing to witness how Picoult has managed to narrate a story from the perspectives of half a dozen individuals with such remarkable mastery and actually make it work.

There is no typical, one-dimensional heroine or villain in this literary piece. As I delved into each chapter, seeing the events unfold through the eyes of a different character, I found myself developing an unexpected and profound compassion for each and every one of them.

The ending was so powerful that I outright bawled my eyes out, and I felt as if I had truly gleaned something of great value from the reading experience.

However, it is a great pity that one has to wade through so much vulgar language and sexual content throughout the book. I sincerely wish that those elements had not been present.

For that reason, I have awarded it four stars. If it weren't for those aspects, it would most definitely have been a solid five-star rating.

I have an intense love for this book, and my students share the same passion!

The unique way in which this book is written truly engages the reader with the characters. Each "chapter" is presented from a different character's perspective, which adds a layer of depth and complexity to the story.

Just like many of Jodi's other books, this one is also very current and tackles controversial medical and legal issues. It makes the reader think deeply about these complex topics and consider different viewpoints.

The book is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, making it a great read for people of all ages. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story that challenges their thinking and makes them feel something.

I can't wait to see what Jodi comes up with next!

This book is a blatant and clumsy attempt to manipulate human emotions.

After reading it, I felt a sense of dirtiness. The story is comparable to cheap natural disaster movies like "Deep Impact" that are designed to tug at your heartstrings in highly predictable ways.

The author overly and painfully uses the dramatic blackout technique. She writes a line that is trying too hard to be clever or profound and then fades to black - that is, leaves extra space before the next paragraph or ends a chapter. Sometimes, there is no time break between one sentence and the next. What a cheap trick! Does this still impress anyone?

The author writes the entire novel as a cliffhanger - another shameless manipulation that I detest. The whole novel spans no more than a few days. She builds up plot points that don't pay off. When she finally reveals the characters' motivations, they turn out to be rather lame justifications for their actions.

The sideline love story was completely foreseeable. It's about old sweethearts with a bad breakup who are suddenly thrust into a situation together. The woman resists, the man persists, and the woman gives in to romantic evenings and sex. This once again illustrates the stereotype that women don't really know what they want and "no" doesn't really mean no, and if you push hard enough, you can have your way with any woman.

Needless to say, I do not recommend this book.

Although I rate this book five stars, it isn't among my absolute favorites. It causes too much pain.

The first time I began reading this book was during Christmas, and I quickly realized I wasn't yet prepared for it. The second time, however, was just at the opportune moment.

This book is about a girl who exists to provide her terminally ill sister with everything she requires, every single part of her body.

It's about a girl named Anna who desires to live, to have a chance at a proper life she truly deserves. Despite being only 13 years old, she is ready to fight for this life, and fight she does. Oh, how she battles! Even if it means going against her parents, especially her mother. Even if it means taking the opportunity to live from Kate, whom she loves deeply.

Anna is a fighter from start to finish. Her life is tough and unfair, and at the age of 13, she is already stronger and more mature than many others.

Kate, on the other hand, is much gentler. She endures suffering; her life is filled with pain. She lives in the hospital and is fully aware that her life hinges on Anna and her decision. Kate is genuine, not like many sick characters in other books with elaborate to-do lists of obscure wishes. She is more real, and her actions and thoughts command a great deal of respect. Kate is neither pushy nor selfish. She understands her sister but also her mother.

Sara, the mother of the sisters, is a strong character, yet she is also selfish and deeply desperate. Her behavior towards Anna sickens me. I understand her love for Kate, but Anna is also her daughter. Well, in the end, she is a perfect example of a real human being in a tragic situation.

All the characters in this book are simply real. Oscar Wilde said that immortal books are those that show the world its own shame, and I believe this is one of those books.

The plot is just as it should be. It's impossible to describe it as exciting or thrilling. The dialogues, the relationships, everything is in its rightful place. This book presents life, well, one of the unfair versions of it.

Still, it is a breathtaking book that can teach many useful, necessary, and valuable lessons! I think this is one of the books of our era that everyone should read.

“There are always sides. There is always a winner and a loser. For every person who gets, there's someone who must give.”

One time, I watched the movie adaptation of this in high school health class.

However, we had to watch it over multiple days of class.

As a result, when the twist hit, we were more confused than anything else.

Even that rather bizarre viewing experience was more memorable to me than this book.

This is part of a series I'm doing where I review books that I read a long time ago and remember very little, if anything, about.

I find it quite interesting to look back on these books and try to recall any details or impressions that might have stuck with me.

Sometimes, it's amazing how much we can forget over time.

But it also gives me the opportunity to重新evaluate these books and see if my perspective has changed.

Although this particular book didn't leave much of an impression on me, it's still a part of my reading history and worth reflecting on.

Catching up…

I read this years ago, and have been meaning to write a review for Goodreads for some time.

Picoult’s writing is always about profound causes. It delves into hope, heartache, and family drama. And this story is no exception. Especially when considering the purpose of Anna Fitzgerald’s young 13-year-old life. She was brought into the world specifically to save her older sister who has leukemia. After all, she is the perfect genetic match to do so.

So, what happens when Anna lashes back at her parents and decides to sue them for the medical rights to her own body? This is a question that lies at the heart of the story.

This is a powerful, emotional story about the life-altering consequences of Anna’s very adult decision. Without a doubt, hope and heartbreak are going to fill these pages. The author skillfully weaves together a narrative that will tug at the reader’s heartstrings.

This is a very thought-provoking story that is going to grip any reader. There is a lot of science, philosophy, morality, and ethics here, which makes this a perfect book discussion selection. It will make you question your own beliefs and values, and leave you with a lot to think about long after you’ve finished reading.

Actual rating: 1.5 ⭐'s

This could have been an outstanding book. The premise has piqued my interest for years. It presents a fascinating situation that makes me wonder how I would act or react if it were to occur in my real life. Therefore, I was extremely eager to see how Picoult would handle this difficult, sensitive, yet highly significant topic. Well, unfortunately, I was also extremely disappointed!

I quickly realized that I didn't like the execution, but I persisted in reading, hoping it would improve. Additionally, and this is one of the few positives I could find, the story was very easy to read. I managed to read a higher number of pages in a day than I usually do. And this was despite the fact that I didn't actually like the writing style. For some reason, I kept stumbling over words. Maybe it was the sentence structure? I can't really say, but something just felt off. (Although I must mention that I read the German translation, so perhaps it's due to the translator and not Picoult herself.)

My main concern was that the book constantly deviated from the main storyline. As I previously stated, the story is about an important topic. So why wouldn't you stay focused on this crucial topic? Why instead keep reverting to discussing other, less important matters that, in the end, added absolutely nothing to the main story? I picked up this book because I wanted to read about how a family copes with something as沉重 and可怕 as cancer. I simply do.not.care. about a trivial love story!!

I just... I'm sorry, but this stupid and unnecessary love story keeps irritating me whenever I think about it. I've read numerous books with unnecessary romance tropes before, but this book truly takes the cake! It simply didn't make sense why it was there. Was it so the book could meet the requirements to be classified as "Chick-Lit"? Because, honestly, the only thing it did was make the book less believable (I would like to think that a guardian ad litem needs to be impartial to the attorneys involved in a court case - previously having a relationship with one of them doesn't seem impartial to me. So realistically, wouldn't Julia and Campbell have had the duty to inform the court about this predicament and thus, one of them wouldn't have been allowed to participate in this case?) and cliché.

Speaking of Julia... goodness gracious, where do I even start?! She is one of the most clichéd characters I have ever come across. She ticks so many boxes of "how not to write a female character". I can't even begin to tell you how many times I rolled my eyes when reading from her perspective!
But hey, maybe I just don't understand her, because she's ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* different *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ and ♥*♡∞:｡.｡not like other girls｡.｡:∞♡*♥. She speaks her mind and doesn't care what others think of her, she dyes her hair, and she enjoys spending her free time in cemeteries and engaging in sexual favors next to graves. ♡(⚗ ˘ ⚗)♡ How endearing! ♡(⚗ ˘ ⚗)♡
She and her characteristics annoyed me to such an extent that I considered several times to just give up on the book and never pick it up again. Unfortunately, I still had some hope left that everything would, at some point, turn around and maybe everything would end in a satisfying way... (spoilers: It didn't.)

The parts about the actual topic - cancer and the wish of a young girl to decide what happens to and with her own body - were interesting. So was the side plot of Jesse, the brother. However, his problems and actions (which were a result of him being unable to cope with Kate's illness) were of such a severe nature that treating them as a side plot seemed unjustifiable and insufficient. The guy clearly has some deep mental health issues, he's setting fires and almost kills people, for God's sake!! Something as serious as this requires its own book (or at least be the only side plot! If only there was the option to not focus on writing an unnecessary romantic plot and instead concentrate on some truly intriguing topics...). Here, it seemed like these things weren't even that big of a deal.

Overall, you could say that there was simply too much going on, most of it not really adding anything of value. This also includes the sometimes very cheesy, overused, and pseudo-deep/pseudo-intellectual phrases, scenes, and snippets. And then, when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the ending arrived....WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT??? Seriously, I don't think I have EVER been so angry at an ending. Suddenly, not only the secondary storylines and stupid platitudes seemed unnecessary, but the ENTIRE BOOK seemed pointless! Honestly, I feel like Picoult simply chose the easy way out so as not to upset and anger any readers who might disagree with the outcome of the court case. And I'm sorry, but I refuse to accept or respect such a choice. The court case ended in a perfectly logical way, with everything explained. She should have left it at that and made a statement about how everyone is allowed to make their own choices, even if they're young. Especially considering we find out how Anna came to make that choice in the first place!

One small positive thing (besides how quickly I was able to breeze through this book) was Campbell's aid dog. I was very pleased to see some representation of a non-blind person in need of a service animal. Even better was the fact that the challenges of having such an animal might bring (e.g., people petting the dog, people wondering why he needs a service dog if he isn't blind, etc.) were depicted. But aside from that... I originally gave 2 stars, but I decided to reduce my rating to just 1 because the more I think about it, the more annoyed I become. I was expecting to finish this book feeling upset and crying, but I did not think I would be crying out of frustration!

It would be an understatement to say that I despised this book. I truly loathed it with a passion. I was able to predict the ending just 5 pages into it, yet I persisted in reading it through. Why, you may ask? Probably because every other person in nursing school was reading it and couldn't wait to tell me how wonderful it was. Let me tell you, never trust nurses when it comes to book recommendations. While the medical information presented in the book was somewhat interesting, and if it managed to persuade even one person to become an organ donor, then I suppose it served a purpose in the world. However, reading this book was an absolute chore. It was trite, simplistic, and the attempt to write from the perspectives of numerous different people failed miserably. All of the characters spoke with the exact same voice, which made for extremely flimsy characterization. I simply didn't care about any of them and, in fact, welcomed and even hoped for their deaths. And don't even get me started on the subplot involving the two lawyers. It was so ridiculous that it made me want to swallow the barrel of a shotgun. If you're 34 years old and still can't get over something that happened to you in high school, then you're clearly not mature enough to be a lawyer and might as well just end it all now. I have a sneaking suspicion that this author found a graduate school paper on organ donation and cobbled together a novel around it in a week, or maybe even less. I hated this book with a vengeance. Negative stars all the way.